Compare towns
Douglas vs Exeter vs Sutton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Douglas | Exeter | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,452 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Exeter High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.1 |
12.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.